Amara doesn’t need us, but she’s choosing us anyway.
We make our way down to the first level of debauchery, heading for the bar on our left. Raiden needs every advantage he can get his hands on tonight, even just a shot to calm his nerves, yet I can’t get Amara’s words out of my head. We’re fighting a losing battle, but it only makes me want to fight harder, because it’s one I genuinely believe in.
I’ve spent too long refusing to get involved because I was afraid of messing everything up again. No more.
Every person that catches sight of us sends Amara curious looks. Some with lustful interest, others with envy, and a select few dip their heads in respect and turn away. Regardless, they all take note of the fact our legion has acquired a mate, filing the tidbit of information away in case it serves useful in the future.
Raiden orders three drinks, and even though Amara’s is a water she watched the bartender pour, she grimaces down at the glass and doesn’t bother pretending to take a sip. She holds it out of obligation, following us as we find a table. We settle into the plush, curved booth facing the stage, but Raiden and I only have eyes for her. The way she sets her glass down and coaxes Avery onto the table, her attention torn between loving on the falcon, and the strippers. The way her eyes widen as one clearly impresses her, and the slight tilt of her head as she assesses another.
“Fucking hell,” she murmurs. “I didn’t even know people could bend that way. That can’t be good for her spine.”
A few minutes later I glance up as two people approach, only to catch Kodiak’s smile as he soaks up our mate’s concentrated focus on the stage with amusement. Evren is at his side, silver hair slicked back and arctic blue sleeves rolled up to his inner elbows, the top few buttons undone in a casual air. It matches Kodi’s appearance enough to make it less obvious that my brother is his guard, makes him seem approachable, but still dressy enough to garner respect.
Games, games, games. When these people have time to sleep is beyond me.
“Well as I live and breathe, Kodiak wasn’t exaggerating,” Evren purrs, gaze set firmly on Amara. “You are simply a vision of loveliness, my dear. It’s a pleasure to finally meet the woman that brought the Garrison legion to their knees.”
With a breathy chuckle, she shakes her head, stroking her knuckles affectionately down Avery’s spine. “Let’s see if you feel the same way by the end of the night. I’m not particularly in the mood to humor overinflated egos, and can’t make any promises that your guests will walk out of here tonight with all of their appendages intact.”
A sly smile quirks his lips. “I believe we’re going to get along famously. Anyone stupid enough to get close enough to a mated woman to lose a finger deserves to lose the whole hand as far as I’m concerned. Do me a favor, though? Stick with maiming and at leasttrynot to destroy my club; the deductible on my insurance policy is brutal.”
Giving her another wink, he turns to me and Raiden. “Drinks are on the house, and don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything. The real fun begins at nine-thirty sharp, last door down the hall of the third sublevel; can’t miss it.”
Kodi leans across the table to palm the back of Amara’s head, pulling her in for a swift, hard kiss, and is rewarded with Avery’s talons slashing across his forearm. Pulling away, he exhales a long suffering sigh. “Worth it.” Raiden passes over a napkin with amusement that Kodi uses to wipe away the blood and chuck it right back at him.
Fixing a serious look on Amara’s face, Kodiak taps his ear. “Don’t hesitate to flag down security if you need anything. We’ve all got comms, and they can reach me faster than it’ll take me to see a message on my phone. You’ll stay glued to Stone’s side all night?”
“I can’t think of anything more fun than him listening to me pee, but yeah, I promise,” she declares with a smirk, and a fraction of the tension in his hard gaze lightens. “Now quit flirting and go back to work before you get fired.”
Evren chuckles, clapping Kodi on the back. “I look forward to seeing you brighten up more of these events, Amara. It’s such a delight watching poor Kodiak here get his panties in a twist over every little thing.” Reaching into his back pocket, he pulls out a black business card with his name and a phone number in an elegant, light blue script. “A mating gift.”
Amara flips it over and back with a furrowed brow. “Umm... thanks? But I don’t think you’d want me scaring away your clients.”
Tucking his hands back in his pocket, he barks out a laugh, gaining the attention of the neighboring tables. “Not a job offer; I like my intestines to remain on theinside,thank you. A blank check favor, no strings attached.”
The three of us are all holding our breath now, but he simply disappears with a wink, a stunned Kodiak following the fox as he makes his rounds greeting his guests.
Amarafolds it in halfand jams it into her purse, glancing up when Raiden makes a strangled sound. “You okay?”
His fingers flex before he balls them into a fist to keep from reaching out to her purse to rescue the golden ticket from its depths. Clearing his throat, he says, “Perfectly fine. You should take good care of that card, though. It’s,” his entire countenance changes in an instant, narrowing his eyes at the salivating vultures eyeing Amara’s purse. “It’s extremely valuable. People would give their firstborn for Evren’s personal number, let alone a free favor. I’ve never heard of him offering a boon to anyone.”
She not-so-subtly picks up Avery and sets her on top of her purse, gazing around at the people staring at our table and going a little pale. “So he decided to put a target on my back? What a backhanded gift.”
“Evren isn’t necessarily what I’d call agoodman, but he refuses to charge beyond operating costs when I reach out to find homes for my donated organs when he could make a pretty penny off of them, so his heart isn’t entirely black. I’m fairly certain he meant this as an actual gift, as well as ensuring the people here understood what esteem he holds you in. He pretty much just shouted that you’re the most important VIP he’s ever had at one of his events, and is trying to get onyourgood side.”
“Oh. Cool.” She turns back to the strip show like it’sno big deal.
Chest shaking with silent laughter, I drape an arm around the back of her chair, toying with a lock of her hair.
Raiden rises to his feet, cupping Amara’s cheek and placing a tender kiss on her forehead. “I’m going to see if I can strike up any conversations. Do you need anything?
She offers him a small smile. “No, I’m good. Have fun making out with the voters, you have my blessing. Especially if you take pictures.”
The corners of his lips quirk, and he strokes a thumb across her cheek in a reverent caress before heading down the hall toward the next sublevel. This was my favorite part of the plan for tonight. The others are caught up in their own agendas, leaving me with our mate all to myself. Yes, I need to be vigilant of our surroundings, but neither of us have to get involved in the games and can simply enjoy each other’s company.
I didn’t anticipate how irritating it’d be to have so many people glancing at her appreciatively all night, though.
From her purse, Amara withdraws a miniature bottle of water and takes a sip, stowing it away again for safekeeping and leaves her hand on top for an extra layer of security. “I have to ask. These women are here because they want to be, right?”
